Re: (ri) 1 Anyone?

Originally Posted by cowdery

The Col E. H. Taylor rye is going to be an annual release, so they're making it at least once a year. It's not a one-off like the CEHT sour mash was. How much they're making and whether or not it might show up as something else is unknown, but with BT anything is possible. The mash bill is just rye and malt, like MGP Indiana, but they're not saying what the proportions are. 95/5? 90/10? 85/15? No way to know for sure unless they tell us. Like the age, they're not saying.

I had my first drink of it the other day, and I noted complexity without too heavy a mouthfeel or too heavy a woody influence. I was a big fan, enough that I might go and pick up my own bottle soon. Glad to hear it will be an annual release. Funny we are now discussing its mashbill and whether it is a one off, all of which I wasn't aware of when I recommended the CEHT rye to MM in the second post of this thread. Just goes to show, leave it to the experts.

Re: (ri) 1 Anyone?

Count me in the minority who likes the Ri1. I have a sentimental attachment to it as it was the first rye I ever tried (and loved). Although I do agree that the Knob Creek rye is a better whiskey, and oddly enough, around here, it is cheaper than Ri1.

Re: (ri) 1 Anyone?

Originally Posted by Merrymash Monk

boneuphtoner,
nice to hear a different perspective. I'm just curious if you can describe your smell and taste experience and what you like about the ri 1.

Hi, even though I've been a bourbon/rye enthusiast for a couple of years now, I've never been that good at pulling out specific flavors for any whiskey, etc. What I can say for my palate is that it has a very nice viscous mouth feel, and it has a great balance of rye spice and corny sweetness. Overall, a very well integrated whiskey. I do think that the Knob Creek rye is slightly better in all aspects however, and the odd thing is, around here it is actually cheaper..that is why there are probably a few comments about bang for your buck, etc. And I can understand that, but I still think the Ri1 is a very good whiskey in its own right.

Baby Saz seems a little lighter in body than both of these, but also has its own unique balance of flavors. Unlike the Beam ryes, which taste similar to very rye heavy bourbons, the Sazerac has a very grassy, gin botanical flavor that I find pleasing as well.

Re: (ri) 1 Anyone?

Thanks for more details. Even if you don't pull out specific flavors, describing the form of the whiskey like mouth feel etc helps a lot to get across the character of the whiskey. It helps to know that it has a bigger mouth feel than Baby Saz. Between that and the corn sweetness, it obviously seems to have a higher corn/lower rye content than Saz, I too have found the Saz nice in it own way. Not crazy about the Knob Creek Rye. Its heavy handed even though I do like the distinctive JB flavor- which I like best expressed in JB Black. Around here the Knob and ri 1 are both around $40, maybe $36 or so on sale. A bit high to take a chance on the ri 1.

Re: (ri) 1 Anyone?

Originally Posted by Merrymash Monk

Thanks for more details. Even if you don't pull out specific flavors, describing the form of the whiskey like mouth feel etc helps a lot to get across the character of the whiskey. It helps to know that it has a bigger mouth feel than Baby Saz. Between that and the corn sweetness, it obviously seems to have a higher corn/lower rye content than Saz, I too have found the Saz nice in it own way. Not crazy about the Knob Creek Rye. Its heavy handed even though I do like the distinctive JB flavor- which I like best expressed in JB Black. Around here the Knob and ri 1 are both around $40, maybe $36 or so on sale. A bit high to take a chance on the ri 1.

Is there any reason to think the Baby Saz (and Handy and whatever else follows it) isn't also a barely rye rye like Ritt and probably all the Beam ryes? I don't know, I am just curious. Doesn't mean that can't be different in mouthfeel, corn influence or whatever. It is just that I have always assumed, perhaps incorrectly that BT rye (with the exception of the CEHT rye) was standard 51% rye (or close to it. Maybe 53% like Barton?) like most others. The whiskey tree doesn't currently have a mashbill for the BT rye so I presume it remains a mystery.

Last edited by tanstaafl2; 07-19-2013 at 06:33.

That yella whiskey runnin' down my throat like honey dew vine water and I took another slash…